Leaf holder for loose-leaf binders



Jan. 22 1924. 1,481,342

H. A. BLACKWELL ET AL LEAF HOLDER FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS Filed Jan. 51, 1923 A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

T T E S PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY A. BLACKWELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND RICHARD M. WATSON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LEAF HOLDER EOE LOOSE-BEAF BINDERS.

Application filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 616,069.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we. HARRY A. BLACK- wnnn and RICHARD M. WATSON, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, and in the city of Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of lliichigan, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in Leaf Holders for Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to leaf holders for loose leaf hinders of the type shown in the prior patent to R. M. Watson, No. 1,042,626, and has for its general object an improvement in the relative location of the parts and in their construction and mode of operation, whereby to increase the attractiveness and utility of the device and decrease the cost of production.

With these ends in view, the invention resides in the provision of a unitary clasping device mounted for insertion on and removal from a binder plate; in adapting the clasping device for location upon and operation over the flat side of the binder plate instead of mounting it on the channelled side, as heretofore; and, finally, in constructing the binder plate to have its channelled side secured to the back ofthe folder.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in section, illustrating a binder plate having a plurality of clasping devices mounted thereon, the sheath of one of said devices shown in section, and the binder plate being shown secured to the back of a folder, which is illustrated broken away;

Figure 2 is an end elevation with the clasping rings closed; and

Figure 3 is a similar view with the claspin rings open.

eferring now to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a binder plate which may be made of any desired length, and which has itsside edges turned downward and inward at an angle to provide guides, or flanges, 2 for engagement by clasping devices to be mounted on the binder plate. At either end, the binder plate is provided with anaperture 3, the material of the binder plate surrounding which is pressed downward to form an abutment 4 lying flush with the edges of the flanges 2, which enable the central portion 5 of the hinder, or folder, 6 to be secured by riveting, or the like, to the abutments 4, which thus serve as supports for the back 5.

According to this invention, a plurality, for example three, clasping devices are designed to be slidably mounted on the binder plate 1, and the construction and manner of mounting one of the clasping devices on the binder plate will now be described.

The numeral 7 indicates a sheath of approximately the length shown in the drawings and having its side edges turned down ward and shaped to provide grooved flanges 8, which are adapted to embrace the flange guides 2 on either side of the binder plate 1. The groove'in each flange 8 is shaped to provide a shoulder 9, which rides upon'the top of the binder plate, as more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, and furnishes a fixed sliding engagement of the clasping device with the binder plate. Mounted in each of the sheaths 7 are half-rings 10 and 11, which project upward from integral base members 12 and 13 through apertures 14 )rovided near one end of each of the sheaths Each of the base members 12, 13 is in the form of a bent spring leg, as more clearly shown in Figure 1, the bent portions meeting at the center to form a toggle, as indicated at 15. The meeting surfaces of the toggle members may be held in fixed relation to each other by a tongue and groove connection, as indicated at 16. The sides of the spring legs bear against the sides of the sheath 7, and are thereby held under stress, this stress being sufficient to keep the halfrings in either open or closed position, according as the toggle members 15 are moved to position above or below the horizontal plane. This movement is eifected by separating or bringing together the two halfrings 10 and 11, and in this movement, the spring members, or legs, 12 and 13 will be extended or will retract in a longitudinal direction, as will be understood.

By reference to the patent above referred to, it will be seen that the clasping devices are arranged to span the channelled side of the-binder plate, and that the legs, or spring members, of the half-rings are mounted in the channel of the binder plate itself and slide therein, the sheath of each clasping device having its side edges bent to en age over the channelled sides of the binder p ate. hen secured to the inside of the backof the binder, or folder, the channelled side as'in the patent. This construction enables the .cljasping' devices to be readily moved to any adjusted positions on the vbinder plate, aswill be understood.

It will-be understood, of course, that in commonwith the construction shown in the patent referred to, the .clasping devices of the present invention have the half-rings located at one end of the sheath, and the clasping device as ,a whole may not only be mounted in various adjusted positions on the binder plate, but the relative distance between the half-rings of each clasping device 'n ay befnrthervaried by reversing the positions of the sheaths on the'binder plate.

W laim 15A leafholder for loose leafbindc-rs, having, in combination, abinder plate bent downward at its side edges to fo1'1n'g1iides.,

and a pluralityof clasping devices slidably mounted on the binder plate and spanning the plain side thereof.

2Q leaf holder for loose leaf binders, having, in combination, a binder plate providedflwith terminal apertures having the surrounding materlal extended outward to forrn [abutment-s and provided with lateral flanged guides on its side provided with said abutnicnts, and a plurality of clasping devices slidably mounted on said binder plate to span the plain side thereof and having lateral grooves engaging said guides.

3. Adeaf holder for loose leaf binders. having, in combination, a binder plate bent downward at its side to form guides, and a plurality .of,clasping devices slid-ably mount- 'ed on saidbinder plate, each of which comprises a sheath provided with lateral grooves toembrace said guides and a pair of halfrinfgs having spring toggle members located Within the sheathabove the plainside of said binder plate.

1 st. in 'combination with a folder. a'binder plate having flanged guides at its sides and secured in said folder with its channelled side downwa d, and a 'ilurality. of clasping devices slidably mounted on said binder pla'te, ..each of which comprises a sheath spanning theupper, or plain, side of said binder plate and provided with lateral grooves for embracing said guides. and sprin'fg toggle members located in the grooves ofsaid sheath and each of which has a half-ringprojecting upward through an aperture near one end of said sheath.

5, A 'leaf holder for loose lea-f binders. having, in combinatioina binder plate providedjat its side edges with guides andpreseating a continuous surface on its upper sidefand ,a plurality of clasping devices slidably mounted on the binderplatc in engagenient with said guides and spanning the upper side thereof.

'In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

HARRY A. BLACKVVELL. RICHARD M. WATSON, 

